What do french fries, chips, chocolate and Facebook have in common? Someone in the Arkansas River Valley is giving them up for Lent this year.

Roy Smith, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church is giving up french fries and chips. Charlee Martin of Atkins is giving up chocolate and Christine Sain of Dover is giving up recreational Facebook.

Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday Christians of all denominations observe through prayer, fasting and making changes and sacrifices in their lives.

“Our church observes Lent in a more general way,” pastor Don Rose at Crow Mountain Baptist Church said. “We see Lent as a time of self reflection and an opportunity to renew fellowship with God.”

Rose delivered the first sermon at the community Lenten worship services held annually at different downtown churches in Russellville.

llville Area Ministerial Association and begin each year on Ash Wednesday. The services offer a 30-minute worship service and 30-minute lunch provided by the hosting church. A $5 donation to Help Network is recommended.

Old South Restaurant owner Mary Ware said she has seen an increase of orders without certain foods since Ash Wednesday.

“It happens every year,” Ware said. “People start ordering salads without meat and other items. It’s already started this year and I’m sure we’ll see an increase as Lent progresses.”

Others like pastor Rose’s congregation choose to observe Lent as a time of soul-searching or by changing their daily routines.

“I like to add something to my normal routine that helps others,” Terri Kulbeth said. “Giving something up is more about me. When I try to be intentional about giving my time to others, I focus less on myself.”

Think of Lent as a spring cleaning for the soul — an opportunity to spend 40 days purging the negative, focusing on the positive and emerging on Easter Sunday with a renewed faith and sense of self.